The Art Institute of Chicago

Male Face Mask (Chihongo)

Wood, raffia, burlap, turaco feathers, guinea fowl feathers, and pigmentChokwe Angola or Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa/Mid–late 19th century

Description

The Chokwe use masquerades to engage with their ancestors, encouraging them to guide, protect, and educate the living. Chihongo is the male equivalent of the female mwana pwo mask. The male mask’s feathered headdress, red coloring, scarification patterns, stylized beard, and filed teeth evoke wisdom, leadership, and status. While both mask characters partake in performances during male initiation rites, chihongo appears at other events where a chief’s affirmation is desired.

Provenance

Unknown private collection, Berlin, Germany, from c. 1912 [this and the following according to personal communication from J. Buxton dated June 13, 2003 and statement by Lisa Bradley dated Sept. 2003 documented in curatorial file; object report by Marie-Lousie Bastian, 1982, copy in curatorial file]; Dr. Wolfgang Nerlich (1928-2012), Munich, Germany, until early 1990s [personal communication with Pace Primitive dated May 22, 2013, documented in curatorial file]; sold to Pace Primitive, New York, N.Y., early 1990s [Pace Primitive inventory #53-0157]; sold to John and Barbara Buxton, Shango Galleries, Dallas, Tex., Oct. 1997 [Jordán 1998, no. 70; acquisition documentation in curatorial file]; sold to the Art Institute, 2003.

Dimensions

66.1 × 50.8 × 25.4 cm (26 × 20 × 10 in.)

Source

The Art Institute of Chicago

Movement / Period

chokwe

Accession No

181740

Official Citations

[The Art Institute of Chicago Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Chokwe Angola or Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa

chokwe • Angola • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

Continuous Discovery